David Cameron has overruled the Home Office and ordered a rethink to ensure that pubs can be open for England's World Cup fixture against Italy.

The Prime Minister stepped in after pubs were refused permission to extend opening hours for England's opening clash on June 14, which kicks off at 11pm - when most pubs usually close for the night.

A source said: 'We'll now consult with the pub industry, police and councils on best way to make sure pubs can be open for the Italy game at 11pm.'

The Home Office had refused a request from the British Beer and Pub Association asking for an extension of licensing times across the country, leaving England fans hoping to watch the game in their local with friends facing disappointment before the tournament even kicks off.

Celebrations: David Cameron has overruled the Home Office and ordered a rethink to ensure that pubs can be open for England's World Cup fixture against Italy

The agony: The Home Office had not given special dispensation for pubs to stay open late for England's opening World Cup match which kicks off at 11pm UK time

The British Beer and Pub Association
(BBPA) had asked for opening hours to be extended across the country for
the opening and closing weekends of the month-long tournament in
Brazil.

Individual pubs would still be able to apply for a late licence, although ministers have previously extend hours across the country in special circumstances.

Serving times were pushed back in 2011 for the royal wedding celebrations and 2012 for the Queen's diamond jubilee.

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However, the Home Office had not granted the request, made prior to the World Cup draw by BBPA, which represents 50,000 English pubs.

David Cameron, pictured jogging in central London this morning, intervened to ensure pubs will be able to open later

'The Home Office wrote back to us and said "we don't consider this of national importance",' the BBPA's chief executive, Brigid Simmonds, told BBC Radio 5 live.

'They've really missed something here and they should reconsider.'

A one-off late licence for an
individual pub costs £21, meaning that if all pubs applied it would cost
a combined £738,000, Ms Simmonds said.

Pubs
have been struggling across the country, which some landlords have put
down to cheap alcohol being available in supermarkets, and are closing
at a rate of 26 every week, according to figures released by the Campaign for Real Ale last year.

Round-the-clock drinking
times were introduced by Labour in 2005 with the hope that it would lead
to a more European-style 'cafe culture', although many pubs did not
take up the offer of later licences.

The
BBPA had argued that extending hours for the World Cup would give a
boost to publicans, and Ms Simmonds said the Home Office decision had
been 'extremely disappointing'.

'With
many England fans priced out of flying to Brazil by the huge cost, it’s
a great shame that pubs don’t have more freedom to stay open for
games,' Graham Brunskill of the Football Supporters Federation told the Sunday Mirror.

'For many fans, the next best thing to a live game is the communal vibe of the pub.'

Crime Prevention
Minister Norman Baker had told MailOnline this morning:'We have no plans to extend licensing hours for this year's World Cup.

'It is our normal
practice to only extend licensing hours under the Licensing Act 2003 in
exceptional circumstances, usually for one-off events such as the
Diamond Jubilee rather than prolonged periods.

Communal: Graham Brunskill of the Football Supporters Federation said that for many fans 'the next best thing to a live game is the communal vibe of the pub'

Hopes: Should England make it to the Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday July 13 the match kicks off at a rather more sociable 8pm UK time

'Premises which wish to open longer during this time can do so by applying for a Temporary Event Notice extension.

'This gives local authorities and police an opportunity to feed into the decision making process, allowing them to allocate resources if necessary.'

Although extended licences have not been granted for the final weekend of the tournament, should England make it to the Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday July 13 the match kicks off at a rather more sociable 8pm UK time.